title: [The parapharyngeal space: tumors and surgical approaches].
abstract: The potential parapharyngeal space contains the great vessels of the neck, cranial nerves IX-XII, the sympathetic chain and lymph nodes. Surgical access is difficult and the infrequency of tumors in it make surgery of this part of the head and neck a challenge, 8 women and 2 men (mean age 54.7, range 31-70 years) with tumors of the parapharyngeal space operated on during the past 6 years are presented. The most common surgical approach was the cervical submandibular, used in 6 of our patients with relative ease and minimal complications. Tumors of deep lobe parotid origin should be operated through a transparotid approach. Large benign or malignant tumors have a better prognosis when the transcervical transmandibular approach is used, providing wider access.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Raveh
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sadov
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nageris
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Feinmesser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003390:Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D011379:Prognosis